Bag folding mechanism



Dec. 23, 1941. c. F. ALLISON BAG FOLDING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet ,1

Filed Aug. 28, 1939 73241 772297? 077a77es277272$07c Dec. 23, 1941. F L N 2,266,946

BAG FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 c. F. ALLISON BAG FOLDING MECHANISM Dec. 23, 1941.

Filed Aug. 28, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 23, 1941. c. F. ALLISON BAG FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Au 28, 1939' 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 Dec; 23, 1941. c. F. ALLISON BAG FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 23; 1941 BAG FOLDING MECHANISM Charles F. Allison, Chicago, assignments, to America Company, Chicago, 111.,

11]., assignor, by mesne 11 Bag Closing Machine a-corporatlcn of Illinois Application August 28, 1939, Serial No. 292,250 27 Claims. (Cl. 93-6) bags containing a definite weight of material.

There are various causes for this variation in the lengths of the unfilled neck portions of the bag, but they need not be mentioned.

This invention concerns itself with a folding mechanism for folding the neck portion of filled bags irrespective of such variations in length of the neck portions as may occur. The mechanism is so designed that bags following each other to such folding mechanism will have their neck portions properly folded though considerable variations in length exist in such neck portions.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the first unit of the folding mechanism for making the initial fold in the neck portions of the bag.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the second folding unit for making the final fold on the neck of the bag.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the first folding unit.

Fig. 6 to -Fig. 12 are detail views illustrating the various steps of'the second folding unit in completing the folding of the neck portion of the bag.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken upon the line XIII-XIII direction of the arrows.

Fig. 14 isan elevational view of a cam of the first folding unit.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the other cam on the first folding unit taken substantially upon the line XV-XV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of a cam of the second folding unit.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the other cam on the second folding unit taken substantially upon the line XVII-XV1I of Fig. 4.

substantially of Fig. 1 looking the ported by a lower Fig. 18 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a bag closing machine showing the two folding units. 7

In the drawings which illustrate one embodiment that this invention may assume Figs. 1 and 2 represent the first folding unit which it will be understood is primarily designed for use with the second unit. both of which may constitute a part of a bag closing machine for folding and securing the neck portion of a filled bag. g

This first unit is sustained upon a suitable support I which may be a part of bag closin machine. From the support I rise two standards 2 having bottom flanges 2a bolted to the support I, a cross piece 3 extends across the top of these standards and a screw' is threaded thru this cross piece for a purpose that will later appear.

The standards 2 are provided with grooves or guide ways 5 upon their confronting faces as best shown in Fig. 13. vertical directions. A square or rectangular slide frame. 6 is mounted between said standards 2 and with the sides located in said guide ways. This slide frame abuts the upper screw 4 and is supscrew I which is threaded ,thru the support I. 4 and l the slide frame 6 can be raised or lowered for varying the height of the first folding unit.

The slide frame 8 carries a pair of parallel plates 8, one against each side which may be secured in suchv frame in any suitable manner.

- The rear parts of these plates 8 which constitute Jacent these arms of the bag.

frame members s pport a cam shaft 9. The forward parts of these plates are bifurcated to provide an upper arm 8a and a lower arm 8b and they support at their forward ends a guide plate l8 which forms one wall of a guide way for the empty neck portion of a bag.

The outer ends of the arms 8a are cut away at their lower portions as indicated at H. Dependent arms l2 extend at their upper ends adat the cut out portions. These arms ii are secured to a rod or shaft l3 journalled in the arms 8a. One arm I 2 is provided with a peg M So is provided with a peg It. A spring I 6 is connected between these pegs for the purpose of slightly moving the arms I 2 to the right for a purpose that will later appear.

A plate I! is secured to-the lower ends of the arms II. The inner edge of this plate has an upstanding iiange l8 that cooperates with the plate It for forming a guide way for the neck portion These guide ways extend in By properly adJusting the screws and the end of the adjacent arm A cam |6 is secured upon the shaft 9. This cam has a groove in which a roller 2| travels. The roller 2| is rotatably mounted upon a pitman 22 which has a bifurcated rear end 22a that straddles the shaft 8 and that is supported thereby. The, forward end of the pitman carries a downwardly extending plate 23 that serves as a folder for making the initial fold on the neck of bag.

A cylindrical bearing 24 (Fig. 1) extends inwardly from a frame member 8 and pivotally supports a lever 25 above the pitman 22. The rear end of this lever carries a roller 26 that travels in a cam groove 27 in a second cam 28 secured upon the shaft 9. A link 29 connects the forward end of the lever 26 with the pitman 22.

In the operation of this unit, the rotation of the shaft 9 and cams l9 and 26 will operate the parts to make the initial fold. Assume that-a filled bag 29 with its neck portion iall collapsed and in the guide way formed by plates l0 and It has come to rest in the position shown in Fig. 1. At this time the folder 23 will be in the position shown in Fig. 1, or upon the left side of the fold. It will be apparent that the collapsed neck portion 30 of the bag may extend various amounts above the guideway. Now as the cams revolve, the pitman 22 will be first advanced to bend the neck portion of the bag that projects above the flange l8 over such flange l8, at which time the lever 25 will be actuated to force the pitman 22 downwardly for causing folding plate 23 to fold the previously bent neck portion of the bag downwardly and against flange l3; the spring |6 being put under slight tension as inward pressure is applied against flange l3. a knoll 20a in the cam groove 20 acts upon the lever 22 to draw the plate 23 against the fold. Thereafter the parts return to positions for another operation and the spring l6 acts to slightly draw member l2 and flange l3 to the right to release the bag for movement to the armed folding unit.

The bag with its initial fold reaches the second folding mechanism upon base I when the parts are substantially inlthe positions as shown in Fig. 3. The frame work of this second unit is somewhat similar to that of the first unit and this second unit can be raised or lowered by the screws 4a and 1a just as in the flrst unit. The main differences between these units resides in the folding mechanisms and the cooperative parts and the operation thereof as will now be set forth.

In this second unit, two fulcrum bars 3| are slidably supported in suitable guideways formed in clocks 3|b attached to the outer sides of the arms 6b of a frame plate 8. The outer ends of these bars 3| are hook shaped as indicated at 3 la or shown more clearly in Fig. 7. The plates l0 and flange I6 that form the guide way for the neck of the bag are provided with suitable slots Na and |8a as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to allow the bars 3| to pass therethrough. The bars 3| are respectively pivoted at their rear ends to pendant arms 32 which are respectively secured to the ends of a shaft 33 iournalled in bearings 34 which may be integral with or attached to the arms 3 (Figs. 3 and 4). A lever arm 36 is secured to the shaft 33 and this lever arm carries a roller 36 at its free end that is adapted to lie engaged by the periphery of a cam 31 secured upon a shaft 9a which may be a continuation of shaft 6 supported by the frame plates 8. The cam 31 has a depressed portion 31a on its periphery as shown in Fig. 16. When this depressed portion At this point in the operation,

the

31a reaches the roller 36. the weight of the arm 35 and roller 36 causes the same to descend so that the roller will ride upon the depressed portion. This descent will cause the shaft 33 to partially revolve for swinging the arms 32 forwardly and advancing the bars 3| thru the slots in the guide way as shown in Fig. 7.

The shaft 9a has rigidly mounted thereon a second cam 36 provided with a cam groove 36 (Fig. 17) in whicha roller 40 (Fig. 3) travels. The roller 46 is mounted upon a pitman 4| which has its rear end bifurcated for straddling shaft 60 for support therefrom as indicated at 4|a. This pitman has attached to its forward end a plate 23a and upon this plate there is fastened a folding member 42 having a right angled cutaway part 42a at its lower end for forming a groove between the plate 23a and the uncut-away part of the member 42. The member 42 is fastened to the plate 23a by means of a rivet 43 which extends through along slot 44 defined by the dotted lines shown on member 42. Obviously, the member 42 can slide or move relative to the plate 26a.

A shaft 46 is supported between the frame members 8a. A lever 46 is loosely Journalled at anintermediate point upon this shaft. The forward end of this lever is connected by a link 41 with the pitman 4|. The rear end of the lever 46 carries a roller 43 located in the cam groove 39 of cam 38. The rotation of the cam 36 will rock lever 46 for raising and lowering the bag folding parts connected thereto.

An arm 49 is rigidly secured at its rear end to the shaft 46. The forward end of this arm is connected by a link 6|! with the folding member 42 and constitutes the means for producing relative movement betweenthe parts 23a and 42. For actuating the arm 49, it is necessary to rock shaft 46 and for this purpose a short arm 6| is rigidly secured upon the shaft 46. The lower end of this arm carries a roller 62 which is engaged by the periphery of the cam 39 which is provided upon its periphery with a depressed portion 36a (Fig. 1'7) that allows the arm 6| to recede or move to the left for rocking shaft 46 and causing arm 46 to descend. This cam 38 actuates the pitman 4| and it will be noted that the groove thereof has a knoll 38a that causes the folding plate 23a to pinch or press the fold of the bag against the flange l3, as will later more fully appear.

During the operation of this second folding unit, the bag with the initial fold in the neck portion is positioned with respect to the folding mechanism as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The operation of the shaft 9a and cams 31 and 36 operate the folding parts in properly timed relation. It will be understood that the bags to be folded in the present instance are provided with metal ties 29a (Fig. 6) a feature well known in the art.

In the position of the parts as shown in Fig. 3 the action of the operating mechanism will move the slide bars 3| to the positions shown in Fig. 7. At about the same time, the pitman 4| and the folding mechanism with the initial fold of the bag conflned in the groove thereof will be moved to the right to bend the initial folded portion of the bag over the flange l8 substantially as shown in Fig. 8. Then the lever 46 is actuated to lower the folding mechanism to turn the bent over portion downwardly substantially as shown in Fig. 9. At about this time, the slide bars 3| move to the left, the hooks 3| engaging the ends of the metal tie and causing an upward turning movement thereof to tum the same with the fold. In other words,

or straightening out.

these hooked bars 3| are designed to prevent the part 30b (Fig. 9) of the fold from dropping down Thus the bars 3| also serve as fulcrum members for the bars while the fold is turned downward" and inward against the bag.

While the folding members 23a and 42 are moving to the right as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the arm 49 will be rocked to cause member 42 to move downwardly relative to plate 23a to actas a confining guard for the fold. And as the folding plate 23a is lowered to complete the fold, the arm 49 will be elevated by its cam to raise the part 42 as shown in Figs. 10 to 12. As soon as the folding member 23a has completed its downward movement in making the final fold, a knoll 39a on the cam 38 will come into play to press the member 42 against the folded portion as shown in Fig. 12. Then as the cams continue to revolve the folding member 23a will be released from its pressing engagement and all the parts will return to their normal positions for another operation.

It will be appreciated that the folding units can be adjusted to accommodate difierent heights of bags and that they are capable of folding the neck portions of the bags irrespective of variations in the neckportions of the bag, as is obvious from the structure and operation set forth.

I am aware that many changes may be made and details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention and I do not propose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art and appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bag closing mechanism, a folding unit comprising a member and means for moving said member for transversely bending, then folding portion of the same, in combination unit comprising a bag and compressing with a second folding for operating said second member in a lateral, then downward and then in a reverse lateral direction for completing the folding of the bag.

2. In a bag folding mechanism, means for bending over and turning down the neck portion of the bag against the bag, in combination with a folding ally, then do direction.

3. In mechanism for folding a bag having a metal tie at its upper end, means for bending over and folding down the neck portion of the bag in combination with a folding unit having a member with a groove for receiving the initial fold, means for moving said member laterally and downwardly and means for engaging said metal tie during such downward movement and maintaining the same within the folded portion.

- 4. In mechanism for folding a bag,means for making an initial fold upon the top of the neck portion of a bag, mechanism for further folding the neck portion comprising relatively slidable associated members having a groove therebetween for receiving the initial fold of the bag and means for moving said members laterally and downwardly for completing the folding of the neck portion of the bag.

5. Mechanism for folding varying neck portions extending above a predetermined point, a folding mechanism comprising a folding device having a groove to receive said folded down portion, and means for moving said device laterally and downwardly and in a reverse lateral direction.

6. In a bag folding mechanism, means defining a guideway comprising spaced walls for receiving the empty neck portion of a bag, said walls having slots, hooked shape bars, means for moving said bars thru said slots, in combination with folding mechanism for folding the neck portion of a bag having a metal tie downwardly to bring said tie into engagement with said bars and means for withdrawing said bars and moving said metal tie toward the bag during the completion of said fold by said mechanism.

7. In a mechanism for folding theneck portion of a bag carrying a metal tie, means an initial fold, a folding device having a groove for receiving the initial folded portion of the bag,

means for actuating said device laterally'and during said downward movement for controlling such further folding operation. 9. In mechanism for folding the neck portion means for bending over and folding the downward folding of said neck portion.

10. In mechanism for folding the neck portion of a filled bag, a folding unit for making an initial fold, a second folding unit having a laterally and downwardly movable device provided with a groove for receiving the initial fold, said device comprising relatively movable members and means for causing relative movement of said members during the downward movement of said device.

11. In mechanism for folding the neck portion bag, a folding device for bending over and folding down the empty neck portion of the bag above a predetermined point, a second-folding device having a groove to bers as a unit and causing relative movement thereof for further folding the neck portion of the bag. I

12. In mechanism for folding the neck portion of a filled bag comprising a folding device for making an initial fold upon said neck portion, a second folding device comprising relatively movable members with a groove therebetween for receiving the initial fold and means for actuating said device in a lateral and downward direction and causing relative movement between said members.

13. Mechanism for folding the neck portion of a bag comprising a folding device for making an initial fold upon the neck-portion of the 'bag, a second two-part folding device having a groove for securing the initial folded neck portion of the bag, means for actuating said second folding for making device laterally and apart thereof downwardly and means for holding the folded portion of the bag against outward movement during the operation of the second folding mechanism.

14. Mechanism for completing a partially folded neck portion of a bag comprising a twopart folding device having a groove to receive the partially folded neck portion of the bag, means for actuating said device in a lateral and a part thereof in a downward direction and. movable means for retaining the folded portion-of the bag 21. In mechanism for folding the neck portion of a filled bag comprising a folding unit for bending over and down the upper part of the empty.

neck portion of the bag in combination with a second folding unit comprising a folding device having a groove for receiving the initially folded neck portion, said device consisting of relatively movable parts and being laterally movable and the parts relatively movable for completing the folding of the neck of the bag, and a movable member engaging the fold during a limited period during the operation of the second unit to prevent unravelling of the partially folded neck portion ofthe bag;

22. In a bag folding mechanism, a guideway for receiving the collapsed empty neck portion of a bag, said guideway comprising a stationary wall and a movable wall and means for yieldingly supporting "said movable wall for movement toward and from the stationary wall.

23. In a bag folding mechanism, a folding unit comprising spaced vertical standards having confronting grooves, a frame slidably mounted bea partially folded neck portion of a bag compris-v 1 ing a folding device having relatively movableparts with a groove between said parts for receiving the partially folded neck of the bag, means for actuating said device in a lateral direction I .and causing a downward movement of the innermost part for completing the folding operation.

17. Mechanism for completing the folding of a partially folded neck portion of a bag comprising a folding device having relatively movable parts with a groove therebetween for receiving the partially folded neck portion of the bag, and means for actuating said device in a lateral direction and causing relative movement of said parts for causing one part to descend and means for controlling the fold during the folding operation. l8. Mechanism for completing the folding of a partially folded neck portion of a bag comprising a folding device having relatively movable parts with a groove for receiving the folded portion of the bag and means for operating said device in a lateral direction and causing relative movement of said parts and then causing a movement reverse to the first movement for compressing the folded portion.

19. Mechanism for completing the folding of a partially folded neck portion of a bag comprising a folding device having relatively movable parts with a groove for receiving the partially folded neck portion of the bag, means for moving said device laterally and. causing relative movement of the parts and causing one part to move downwardly and a movable device for controlling the folded portion of the bag during the folding thereof.

20. Mechanism for completing the folding of a partially folded neck portion of a bag comprising a folding device consisting of two relatively movable parts normally forming a guide groove therebetween for receiving the partially folded neck of the bag, and means for shifting said device laterally and causing a downward movement of the innermost part for completing the folding operation.

tween said standards and having parts extending into said grooves, and spaced plates rigidly mounted in said frame and extending beyond both sides of said standard, folding mechanism carried by said plates including spaced guideways for receiving the empty neck portion of a filled bag, and means for raising or lowering said frame.

24. In a bag folding mechanism, a folding unit, I

means for supporting said unit for vertical adjustments comprising spaced vertical members, a frame slidable between said members, and devices on said frame for supporting said folding unit, and spaced walls forming a guide way for the neck portion of a bag carried by said devices whereby the unit can be adjusted for different heights of bags.

25. In a bag folding mechanism, adjustable frame members, a plate carried by said members for forming one wall of a guideway for receiving the neck portion of a bag, a pair of arms pivotally and yieldably suspended from upper portions of said frame members and a plate carried by said arms for forming the other wall of said guide way.

26. In bag folding mechanism,.folding mechanism for making an initial fold on the neck of the bag, a second folding mechanism having a groove for receiving said initial fold, and comprising relatively movable members, means for operating said second folding mechanism in a lateral and downward direction and means for engaging the folded portion of the bag during a period of the folding operation to prevent unravelling of the initial fold.

2'1. In a bag folding mechanism, a folding member comprising relatively movable parts forming a groove therebetween for receiving a partially folded neck portion of a bag, means for operating said member and causing relative movement of said parts and means cooperating therewith for preventing unravelling of the fold on the bag.

CHARLES F. ALLISON. 

